What is The Canadian Dental Care Plan (CDCP)
The CDCP is a federal program intended to reduce financial barriers to oral health care for eligible Canadians who do not have access to private dental insurance. Because the rules, renewal periods, and covered fees can change, this page should explain the basics clearly and direct patients to the official Government of Canada resources for the most current details.
As of 2026, the official state that all eligible Canadians can apply, that members must renew coverage annually, and that the renewal window for the 2026–2027 benefit year is April 15 to June 1, 2026. The official also state that applicants must attest each year that they do not have access to private dental insurance and that adjusted family net income must be below the plan threshold.
Who This Information Is For
Before booking an appointment under CDCP, patients should confirm a few key eligibility factors.This page is for patients who:
- Think they may qualify for CDCP
- Already have CDCP and need to understand how booking works
- Are trying to confirm whether they need to renew
- Want to know how CDCP interacts with other coverage and clinic billing